A 3-alarm fire triggered an evacuation at Summa St. Thomas Hospital in Akron early Friday.
Officials say the fire occurred around 6:00 a.m.at the basement of the Summa St. Thomas campus in the 400 block of Main Street. Upon arrival, investigators found flames in the basement.
By 8:30 a.m., the fire was under control with no reported injuries to patients or staff. Friends and family seeking information about Summa St. Thomas patients are urged to call the established hotline at 330-375-7702. Friends and family of patients of Crystal Clinic Orthopedic Center (CCOC), which was also impacted by the fire, can call 330-668-4486.
In a joint statement, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Summa President Dr. Cliff Deveny, and CCOC President Dr. Ron Suntken said the following:
We extend our gratitude to the men and women of the Akron Fire Department for their rapid response and their diligent efforts to quickly contain and extinguish this fire. We are also grateful to the Akron Police Department, the physicians and staff of St. Thomas Hospital, the Summit County EOC, METRO and AMR for their assistance in coordinating an organized, compassionate, and professional response for all patients and staff impacted.The safety of patients, staff, first responders and the public is of the greatest importance. We are very thankful that no injuries have been reported as a result of this incident. Our hospital staff, first responders, and community partners are well-trained and prepared for these situations, and they effectively implemented the appropriate protocols to maximize safety and minimize any damage.
The Akron Fire Department will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of this fire and release the results of that investigation once completed.
Brodie Sadowski, a spokesperson for the Akron Fire Department, said earlier Friday that many patients have been put on city buses to be held temporarily. Others were transferred to nearby Summa facilities
Some patients being moved from Akron Summa. @wkyc pic.twitter.com/psRFePC0Mk
— Tiffany Tarpley (@TiffanyTarpley) October 13, 2017
"Approximately 100 patients are going to be transported to other area facilities," Sadowski said. He also said the 3-alarm fire status is not due to the intensity, but because of the concern of safety.
We streamed live video from the scene: